Alejandra María Giraldo

Sphingomyelin of Erythrocytes Membranes is Related to Total Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol in Patients with Significant Coronary Arterial Disease

We quantified the main phospholipids of erythrocyte membranes and lipid profile from patients with coronary arterial disease (CAD). 202 patients between 22 and 86 years were classified in two groups: a group with CAD greater to or equal to 50% (CAD ≥ 50%) and a second group with CAD between zero and less than 50% (CAD<50%). Total phos- pholipids was,161.1 ± 12.0 nmol Ptotal/mg protein for patients with CAD and 137.7 ± 17.6 nmol Ptotal/mg protein for the patients with CAD < 50% (p=0.038). In the group of patients with CAD ≥ 50%, we found a linear correlation between sphingomyelin and total cholesterol (r = 0.69) and sphingomyelin and low-density lipoproteins cholesterol (LDL-c) (r = 0.74). This study found that sphingomyelin from membrane is directly related to plasma cholesterol and LDL in patients with CAD ≥ 50%.

Actividad de la proteína transportadora de ésteres de colesterol. Polimorfismos del gen en pacientes colombianos con enfermedad coronaria

Introduccion la literatura relaciona la actividad de la proteina transportadora de esteres de colesterol (CETP) con enfermedad coronaria, por reducir el colesterol en las lipoproteinas de alta densidad. Adicionalmente, estudios recientes han identificado variaciones en el gen de la CETP, aunque el papel funcional de algunas de estas variantes sobre la actividad enzimatica y la enfermedad coronaria, es desconocido. Objetivo examinar la asociacion de los polimorfismos TaqIB, MspI y RsaI del gen de la CETP y la actividad de la enzima con enfermedad coronaria. Metodos se evaluo la asociacion entre la actividad de la enzima y los polimorfismos TaqIB, MspI y RsaI, en pacientes con obstruccion coronaria documentada por angiografia. Resultados la angiografia permitio clasificar a los pacientes en dos grupos: uno (213 individuos) con obstruccion coronaria no significativa (OC Conclusion no se hallo asociacion entre la actividad de la CETP, los polimorfismos TaqBI, MspI, Rsal y la obstruccion coronaria. En este trabajo se describen por primera vez los niveles de CETP en los polimorfismos TaqIB, MspI, Rsal para un grupo de pacientes colombianos. Se debe refinar la descripcion del evento coronario, el contexto metabolico de los pacientes y el estudio de haplotipos para encontrar relaciones con enfermedad coronaria.

Detección de Poliovirus en Aguas Residuales de Armenia, Colombia

ObjetivoImplementar un metodo para la vigilancia ambiental de poliovirus circulante a partir de aguas residuales. Metodos Se colectaron 6 muestras de aguas residuales en los sitios finales de descarga del acueducto de Armenia, Quindio. Los virus fueron concentrados y extraidos por un metodo que usa el polietilenglicol y cloruro de sodio como agentes concentradores. La identificacion de poliovirus se realizo mediante la tecnica de reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa empleando cebadores especificos de grupo, de serotipo y de cepa vacunal sabin. Resultados Se demostro la eficiencia de los metodos de deteccion viral empleados. Se encontro la presencia de poliovirus en 5 de las 6 (83 %) muestras colectadas. La identificacion serotipo-especifica revelo la presencia de poliovirus tipo 1 y 3 en las muestras estudiadas. Todos los poliovirus detectados resultaron ser del tipo vacunal lo cual aporta una evidencia mas a favor de la no circulacion de poliovirus salvaje en la region. Conclusion El sistema de vigilancia a partir de aguas residuales puede ser una herramienta sensible para la deteccion de la circulacion de poliovirus.

Seroprevalencia de anticuerpos a virus del sarampión, rubeola, parotiditis, hepatitis B y los tres serotipos de poliovirus, en niños de Quindío, Colombia

Objective The main goal of this research was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps, hepatitis B and all three poliovirus serotypes among children in the Quindío Department, Colombia. Methods Blood samples were obtained from 170 healthy children aged 5-9 years from nine municipalities in Quindío. The presence of serum IgG antibodies against measles, rubella, mumps and Hepatitis B were determined using commercial indirect ELISA kits. Immunity to poliomyelitis was assessed through the presence of neutralizing antibodies following the method recommended by the World Health Organization. Results Among the 170 children enrolled, 169 (99.41%), 170 (100 %), and 167 (98.2 %) were seropositive to poliovirus 1, poliovirus 2, and poliovirus 3, respectively. The average reciprocal antibody titers were 178 for poliovirus type 1, 120 for type 2 and 56 for type 3. Of the 170 children, 96.47 % were protected against mumps and rubella, and 86.47 % against measles. Only 106 (62.35 %) of the studied subjects were proved to be seropositive to hepatitis B. Conclusion The immunization program in Quindío has provided seroprotection against all three poliomyelitis serotypes, rubella and mumps. However, the child population is not fully protected against measles and hepatitis B virus infections.

Serum Concentration and Polymorphisms of Apolipoproteins A-I and B, and Risk of Coronary Artery Disease

Introduction: Variations in the apoprotein apoA-I and apoB genes have been associated with their serum concentration, and thus with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). This study determined the relationship between polymorphism and the serum concentration of apoA-I and apoB in a group of patients with angiographically documented CAD. Materials and methods: Polymorphic sites, XbaI (in apoB), and MspI (in apo A-I) and serum concentrations in these lipoproteins were determined in a population of 231patients classified into two groups: patients with significant CAD (coronary obstruction 50%) and patients with mild CAD (coronary obstruction <50%); the apoB/apoA-I ratio was then calculated. Results: It was found that the M2 allele in the apoA-I acts as a risk factor for coronary artery disease, odds ratio=1.78(confidence interval: 1.21 – 2.61), p =0.002. Nosignificant differences were found between the apoA-I concentration values and the corresponding MspI polymorphism genotypes in the two study groups. Meanwhile, the apoB concentration presented significant differences among the XbaI (p=0.027) polymorphism genotypes, with greater values for the heterozygous genotype in patients with CAD 50%. Likewise, a significantly abnormal difference was evident in the apoB/apoA-I ratio among the two groups, with a greater value for patients with mild CAD. Conclusion: the data showed that the M2allele may be a risk factor for CAD in this population. Additionally, it showed that there is a relationship between apoB serum concentration and XbaI polymorphism; relationship which manifests itself more strongly in patients with CAD. There was no relationship established between the MspI polymorphism of apoA-I and its serum concentration. Other studies are necessary in order to establish the anomalous behavior of the apoB/apoA-I relation in this population.

Ausencia de circulación de poliovirus en departamentos colombianos con coberturas vacunales inferiores a 80

This study aims to explore a possible silent circulation of wild and vaccine-derived polioviruses in departments of Colombia with polio vaccination coverage of below 80%. The study collected 52 samples of wastewater concentrated as a result of precipitation with polyethylene glycol and sodium chloride. The viral detection was carried out through isolation and the identification through neutralization of the cytopathic effect, as well as through a conventional polymerase chain reaction following reverse transcription. The isolated polioviruses were characterized by the VP1 gene sequence. In two of the 52 samples, there was a presence of the Sabin type 2 poliovirus with more than 99% sequence similarity with the Sabin type 2 strain polio. Circulation of the nonpolio enterovirus was detected in 17.3% of the samples. The serotypes identified corresponded to coxsackievirus B1, echovirus 30, and echovirus 11. No evidence of the spread of either vaccine-derived poliovirus or wild poliovirus was detected in the departments of Colombia with polio coverage lower than 80%.

Prevalence of enterovirus infection in infants in Armenia, Colombia, 2009

INTRODUCTION Despite world wide circulation of enteroviruses, little information has accumulated on the circulation of enteroviruses in Colombia. OBJECTIVE The prevalence of enterovirus circulation was examined in children under 1 year to identify the most common enterovirus serotypes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Fecal samples were collected from 320 children under 1 year of age who attended a first-level health center in the city of Armenia, Colombia, in 2009. Enterovirus detection was performed by reverse transcription reaction and nested polymerase chain reaction (RT-N-PCR) using generic enterovirus primers. Samples testing positive in the RT-N-PCR were inoculated into cell cultures susceptible to enterovirus. All isolates were typed by seroneutralization with Lim-Benyesh-Melnick antiserum pools. RESULTS Overall, enteroviral RNA was detected in 43 of 320 (13.3%; 95% CI: 9.7 to 17.1) fecal samples by RT-N-PCR. Viral isolation was possible in 26 of 43 (60.4%) of the positive samples. Of these, 15 were Coxsackievirus B (eight CVB1, two CVB2, five CVB5) and 11 Echovirus (six E6 and five E30). CONCLUSIONS The enteroviral circulation in a population on newly bornes up to 1 year old was 13.3%;the most frequent enterovirus was the same as those serotypes most commonly isolated in other parts of the world. The use of RT-N-PCR was demonstrably feasible as a tool to monitor the presence of enterovirus in stool samples.